HOME INSPECTORS
When buying a home, ensuring it is safe and healthy for you and your family is crucial. While a standard home inspection can cover many areas, it may miss several health and safety concerns. That’s where East Alabama Home Inspectors comes in.
Our unique approach to home inspection focuses on identifying health and safety concerns that can affect your quality of life. As experts in our field, we proudly serve the Cities of Auburn, Opelika, Lochapoka, Notasulga, Waverly, Valley, Lanett, Cusseta, Lafayette, Roanoke, and Salem in East Alabama. We also serve the Chattahoochee River Valley, Columbus, Phenix City, Smiths Station, Seale, Ft. Mitchell, Crawford, and Lake Eufaula. In West Georgia we provide inspection services in Newnan, Lagrange, Pine Mountain, and West Point. In the river region we inspect in the communities and cities of Pike Road, Montgomery, Hope Hull, Wetumpka, Millbrook, Prattville, Holtville, Eclectic, and Tallassee, we also inspect around Lake Martin, Dadeville, and Jacksons Gap and the surrounding cities, towns, and counties. If you are outside of our service area and in need of our comprehensive services, please give us a call and we can discuss providing services. Wherever your future home is located, the health and safety of you and your family are paramount to us.
We pay particular attention to indoor air quality, which can have a significant impact on your health, resulting in respiratory problems, neurological, and heart problems, cancer, and exacerbated allergies and asthma. Most inspectors do not have the expertise or equipment to properly inspect a chimney flue, which can result in undetected problems for you and your family. Air pollution is associated with nearly 200,000 early deaths per year in the USA (Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 2020), Which also indicates much higher incidents rates for individuals experiencing negative health effects.
At EAHI, we offer indoor air quality surveys to ensure you are informed about the air quality in each room of your home and can plan for repairs or negotiate remediation so poor air quality doesn’t make you or your family members feel ill or poorly. Our inspectors use advanced equipment to test for common indoor air pollutants like mold, radon, and asbestos to identify potential issues. According to the World Health Organization, mold is present in over 70% of homes worldwide, and over 28% of the US population carries genes making them more susceptible to the effects of mold. Our goal for air quality is to help you take the necessary steps to improve your home’s air quality if needed.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is produced by the decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and is responsible for over 21,000 deaths each year in the United States. It is produced by the decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Radon can enter a home through tiny cracks in the walls, floors, and foundation, and expansion joints in the foundation. Both the Surgeon General and the EPA recommend having every home in the USA tested once every two years.
Asbestos is another potential hazard that may be present in a home. It is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in building materials through the 1980s due to its heat-resistant properties. However, exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Asbestos-containing materials in a home can include insulation, flooring, roofing, mastics, sheetrock mud, caulks, glazing and siding, and Orangeburg or bituminous sewer pipe.
During a home inspection, an inspector will look for the presence of asbestos-containing materials and advise the buyer on the best course of action. If the inspector suspects that there may be asbestos in the home, they may recommend a specialized asbestos inspection to determine the presence and extent of any asbestos-containing materials. If asbestos is present, the inspector will likely recommend that a professional abatement company remove the material if it’s decaying or friable and or renovations are planned for that area.
One of the most crucial areas that is often overlooked during a standard home inspection is the lateral sewer line. This line runs from your home to the city’s main sewer line and can be a major source of problems if it becomes damaged or clogged. It’s the second most expensive repair on a home ($7500 average repair price) and is present over 43% of the time. Unfortunately, many home inspectors do not have the equipment or expertise to inspect this line, which means that problems may go unnoticed until they become more serious and expensive to repair.
At East Alabama Home Inspectors, we offer sewer line scopes to check for potential blockages and defects that could result in sewer gas and raw sewage backing up into your home. Sewer line scoping also helps to prevent children and pets from potentially playing in raw sewage that could saturate the soil in the yard due to line breakage or offsets.
Another area that is not included in a standard home inspection is the chimney flue. Over 25,000 house fires per year start in the chimney and spread to other areas of the home. A damaged or defective chimney flue can also be a major source of indoor air pollution, as it can allow dangerous products of combustion to enter your home. Again, most home inspectors do not have the expertise or equipment to properly inspect a chimney flue, which means that potential problems may go unnoticed. Our data indicates that Chimney fire hazards besides creosote and soot are present over 78% of the time.
Water quality is another crucial area of concern. Contaminated water can cause various health problems, including gastrointestinal issues, skin irritation, and neurological damage. Our inspectors use advanced testing methods to identify any potential water quality issues, including lead, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants. We can help you ensure that your water is safe for drinking and other household uses.
Accessibility issues are another critical area of concern. Our inspectors are trained to identify potential hazards, including loose railings, uneven walkways, and inadequate lighting, that can pose a danger to occupants. We provide recommendations to help you make your home safer and more accessible.
Water damage is another big-ticket item that can be missed during a standard home inspection. Our inspectors use advanced techniques to identify any potential water damage issues, such as leaks or mold growth, which can help prevent costly repairs down the road.
Termite damage is another critical area that is not part of the SOP for a standard inspection. Termites can cause significant damage to a home’s structure and can be difficult to detect without a thorough inspection. Unfortunately, many home inspectors do not have the expertise, training, or licensing to perform termite inspections and assess for termite damage which means homebuyers could be unaware of potential problems until it’s too late.
At East Alabama Home Inspectors, we understand that buying a home is a significant investment. Our comprehensive approach to home inspection ensures that our clients have all the information they need to make an informed decision. Our inspectors are highly trained and experienced, and have the expertise, training, and equipment necessary to provide exceptional service to our clients and help them avoid these health and safety concerns that are so prevalent and expensive to repair.
In conclusion, it’s essential to have a thorough home inspection when purchasing a home in the areas of East Alabama, West Georgia, Chattahoochee River Valley and the River Region of Central Alabama. At East Alabama Home Inspectors, we offer a unique approach to home inspection, focusing on health and safety concerns, as well as big-ticket items that a standard inspection may miss while still providing the most thorough standard inspection in the area. Contact us today to schedule your inspection and let us help you make an informed decision about your home purchase.
